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TOWNOFLEXINGTON AdhocCommunityCenterAdvisoryCommittee(AhCCAC) Minutes Date: March 27, 2014 Place and time: Cary Memorial Building, Estabrook Hall, 8:30 .. AM Members Present: Michelle Ciccolo, Chair; Mary Ellen Alessandro; Harry Forsdick; Laura Hussong; Jon Himmel (Chair, Permanent Building Committee); Florence Koplow; Leslie Zales Members Absent: Betty Borghesani Liaisons Present:Staff: Linda Vine, Vice Chair of AhCCAC, Town Manager’s Office; Charlotte Rodgers, Human Services; Karen Simmons, Recreation; Koren Stembridge, Library; Committees: David Kanter for Beth Masterman, Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC); Joe Pato for Norm Cohen, Board of Selectmen (BoS); Liaisons Absent (liaisons only attend as-requested and as-available to address relevant agenda items):Staff: Dorinda Goodman, Information Technology; Shawn Newell, Department of Public Facilities (DPF); Chris Filadoro, Department of Public Works; John Mazerall, Police Department;Chief John Wilson, Fire Department; Committees: Jessie Steigerwald, School Committee; Glenn Parker, Chair, Appropriation Committee Also present:Pat Goddard, staff, DPF; Sheila Butts, staff, Recreation Department; Nancy Adler, Chair, Council on Aging (COA) Board; Joel Adler, Town Meeting Member; Bob Pressman Recording Secretary: Sara Arnold The meeting was called to order by Ms. Ciccolo at 8:40 .. AM 1.Minutes: Because of the need to make some edits, approval of the March 21, 2014 Minutes was postponed. 2.Announcements: Ms. Ciccolo thanked those who attended the March 24, 2014 Special Town Meeting, at which the funding for the Lexington Community Center (LCC) renovations was approved. 3.Correspondence: Several people commented on Dan Fenn’s verbally-expressed request for dedicated senior citizen space for groups that currently meet at the Senior Center. This triggered the following discussions: The LCC will need chairs that facilitate comfortable use by those who have difficulty getting out of a chair; there is literature that will facilitate identifying such furnishings. Steffian Bradley Associates (SBA), the contractor for the project, will likely begin working on furnishings in August. It was suggested that a few wheelchairs be available; wheelchairs are currently available at the Senior Center. th This Committee’s April 7 meeting at the Senior Center will provide an opportunity to listen to seniors’ concerns, which can be inferred rather than explicit; listening may be more important than responding to issues. Not all seniors want the same thing but most of them need to understand how they will function in the new facility. For some people, change is particularly difficult and creates fear. Ms. Rodgers reported that her department is leading a discussion group on change and resiliency because studies show that these components are important for successful aging. It was suggested that there be a continuing dialogue with those who use the Senior Center; involvement can lead to a sense of “ownership”. It was agreed that meeting the needs seniors does not require exclusive space for their programs. Ms. Ciccolo commented that some years ago there was a request for a new senior center that would have been